Form



April 7, 1925. 1,532,365

H. E. BILGER FORM Filed Feb. 9 1922 l atenteel Apr. 7, 1925.

rA'reu'rforr-lcs.

HARRY E. BILGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINbIS.

ronivi.

Application filed Febrnaryfl, 1922. Serial No. 535,202.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY E. BILGER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Forms, of which the following is a full,,clear, concise, and. exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. I

This invention relates to forms suclras used in constructing culverts, bridges, sewers and the like, of concrete or similar material. v

The object of the invention is the provision of a form structure, the parts of which may, without modification, be employed to produce forms of varying sizes and proportions with a minimum amount of labor.

A further object is the. provision of a form of this character in which there will be no large parts which will be difficult to handle,

and no small parts which are likely to get lost, it being the objectof the present. invention to provide a form which may be readily erected by one inan.- f

One feature of the invention is the manner of constructing the form centers or supports of a plurality of interchangeable sections, thus permitting the same sections to be used without modification in the construction of forms tions. 1

Another feature is the construction of the center or support sections so they may be uscdon either side of the form, thus avoiding right hand and left hand parts, and rendering the support sections completely interchangeable.

Another feature of the invention resides in 'ecting portions of concrete on the inner sur-v face of the completed culvert or bridge.

Another feature is the structure which permits the same cover plates to be usedon either side or the top of the form, without modification.

of varying sizes and'propor- In the drawing,

Figure l is an end View of applicants form complete;

Figure 2 is a viewat right angles to Figurel of one of thecenter uprights or supports with the cover plates attached thereto;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one end of one of the cover plates;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the lowermost section of a center upright, showing the plate attached to the lowermost section which is arranged to maintain the lower edge of the lowermost cover plate in alignment with the upper cover plates;

Figure 5 is a view of the adjacent portions of two of the center upright sections, showing a modified manner of joining the sections;

Figure'6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 5; v I l Figure 7 is a' View similar-to Figure 5, but showing a still further modified form; and V I Figure 8 is a section on-the line 88 of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the same reference characters indicate like .partsin the SEVQIHlVlGWS, each of the cen ter uprights consists of a plurality of sections of I-beams, stacked each upon the others,-with the surface of their flanges in engagement. These sections will preferably be .of six-inch I-beams, about four inches in length, although other sizes and proportions may be employed. Each upright consists of a lower section 10, and an upper section 11; also where the culvert is to have an inside height of more than one and onehalf feet, each upright will comprise, one or more center upright sections 12. Sections 10, 11 and 12 are substantially identical in construction, except that to the lower flange.

of each lower section 10 is secured, by rivets 13 or in any desired manner, a plate 14, and to the upper flange of the upper sections is secured a pair of angles 15, so disposed as to form a supporting channel or saddle for the two-by-fours 16, which support the top cover plates 17. g

To each of the center upright sections 10, 11 and 12 are secured by means of the rivets 18, the shanks 19 which extend outwardlyand upwardly and terminate in the hooks 20. The hooks 20 of each section are spaced apart and extend substantially parallel to each other, and also parallel to the web of the uprigh sections.

The upper flange of sections, except the upper section 11, is proyidcd with openings 21 and 22; These openings are provided adjacent to the diagonally opposite. corners. the opening 21 is in the left hand near corner, while the opening-22 is adjacent to the right hand far corner. The bottom flange "of each of the sections, exceptthe lower section 10, is provided with *projecting' lugs 23 and 2A, which are rigidly secured in the flange as by welding; The projecting'portions of these lugs are arranged to engage and enter the openings 21 and 22 in'the upper flange of "the adjacentsection." Tl'ldS, lateral displacement of one section in relation'to the other is prevented 'by'means 0t thelugs as-and 2 entering the openings 21 and'22 respectively.

The side cover plates ES-are identical in construction with the top cover :plates 17. The cornercover plates 26-,:however,'areditferent, as will presently appear. Each oi"? the side cover plates "and top cover plates 17 consists of a sheet otmetal 27-prorided at each edge thereof with a flange 28. The flanges 28 are each -proyidedadjacent to each. end with an opening 29, avhich is slightly. greater in diameterthanthe-hooks 20. While only one end of the cover plate is shown in Figure 8, it is to be understood that the opposite end will be in all respects symmetrical with the end shown.

As previously stated, the upright sect-ions are-made of six-inch*I-beams," 'Thecover plates 25'and 17 are six inches in width,

over all, i. e.,-the cover plates correspond in width with the height of the upright sections. Each of the flanges 28 consists of a re-bent portion of them-ctal forming the plate. in practice, the flange is preferably formed. by tolding the-edge ofthe platc back upon itself and then folding the double portion so as to irodiicc a flange which forms an angle of slightly less than 90 with the face of the plate. The flanges 28 are arranged atan' angle less than 90 with respect to the plate in order that their edges may closely engage at a point adjacent to the surface of the plate, thus preventing the formation 01 undesirable'projecting portions of the concrete or cement at the points where-the plates joinll. The re-- bent structure of the flanges not onlystrengthens the plates, but also makes them much more convenient for handling, as the sharp, side edges are thus eliminated.

The corner cover plates 26 consist of two sections extending at right angles to each other, being six inches in"widt-h each way. Each of the "folded edges of the corner plate sections is provided with a perforated each oi-the upright Referring to Figure 1,

"properly space the upper ends of the center uprights. The distance between the shoulders 30 will always be a multiple of six inches. V

Each of the upright sections 10-, 11 land 12 is preferablysubstantially four inches in length. lheend of the plate la,-however, secured to 'the bottomfiange offlthe lower section 1=O= projects outwardly substantially two inches, so as to engage the inner. surface'o'fithe lower siciezcover plate to maintain itin alignn'ient with the cover plates above. The angle members 15 which coinprise the saddleiio r the timbers :16, also project :nearlytwo inches beyond the flange of the upper section 1 1 to which they are secured. Preferably,- tl1e-angles15 willnot extend quite-two inches'be'yond tl ie'uprights, as it is desirable to leave a slight amount of play in order to insure that the lateraledges of the top cover plates may be brought firmly into engagement While the cover plates may beef any desired length, it has beenfound practical to make these substantially four feet in length.

lhe lowermostnpri'ght sections 10 'are supported on-a two-'by-fou-r wood timber 82. The blocks 33 are na-iled to the two-byfour 82 at the inner edges of the uprights, in order to maintain the u rights in spaced relation. Thedis'tance between the remote edges of the blocks giwill in all instances bea multiple-ofsixinches. I

ihe-wvebs of the: uppermost upright sec tions 11 are each provided with a perforation 34-, whiclris engaged by a'hook 35 at the end of the chain 36. The chain 36, adjacent to its opposite-end, is secured to the two-byfour 32 by means of a-nail passing through one of the links and intothe timber 32. If desired, instead of an integral timber 32 being employed, four inch sections may be arranged under e'achot' the uprights, and the intervening space he filled in by six-inch sections, or twelve-inclrand six-inch sections, as desired. This arrangement obviates the necessity of providing a different baseztimbe'r-for each different width of 'culvert or bridge constructed. "The top sup porting members 16, however, will consist of integraltwoby four or two-by-'six-ti1nbers. Assuming that the excavation has been niade,= and' that-the usual concrete base 37 has been placed and permitted to'set, the present form will bev set up as flEOllOWSZ llU Two-by-four timbers, as 32, will be arranged transversely of the culvert at lntervals of four feet. These timbers will, of course,

be parallel to each other, and at right angleslo the axis of the completed form. One of the lowermost upright sections 10 will then be placed on the end of the first two-by-four, and a sidecover plate will be positioned with its upper end perforation 29 in engagement with the hook 20, as indicated in Figure 1. A lower upright section 10 will then be placed on the next timber 32, and the perforation 29 at the opposite end of the cover plate will be caused to engage the near hook on the next upright section. Also, another cover plate will have the perforation in its upper flange engaged with the far hook on the second upright section, and so on, until the required length of the culvert or bridge has been reached. It will be understood, of course, that the timbers 32 will be properly proportioned prior to inserting them under the upright support section. Additional support sections 12 will then be placed upon the lowermost sections 10 with the pins 23 engaging the openings 21 and 22 in the respective flanges. The next cover plate will then be arranged so that the perforation 29 in its lower flange engages a hook on the lowermost section 10, while the perforation 29 in its upper flange engages the hook on the second section 12. Thus, the sections will be built up, each on top of the others, until the uppermost supporting sections 11 are reached. hen the sections 11 are in place, the supporting timbers 16 will be placed in the saddles formed by the brackets 1515, as indicated in Figure 1. Then the corner cover plate sections 26 will be placed in position with the perforation in the lower flange engaging the hook of the upper section 11, while the flange of the horizontal portion of the corner cover plate willengage behind the corner of the angles 15. thus maintaining the corner cover plate in position; The

space between the inner edges of the corner cover plate will be filled in by merely plac-' ing the top section 17 therebetween. If desired, pins 38 may be inserted through the aligned openings in the adjacent flanges in the top cover plates in order to assist in maintaining the sections in alignment. Due to the appropriate spacing of the hooks 20,

and the openings 29 in the flanges of theside cover plates, the adjacent end edges of the cover plates are maintained in close engagement. Due to the fact that the flanges 28 are turned so as to lie at an angle slightly less than a right angle with the surface of the plate, the edges of the several cover plates are caused to engage'practically at the surface thereof, thus avoiding leakage of the concrete between the plates and pre-' venting the formation of projecting portions on the inner side of the concrete structure.

This structure also avoids the tendency to lower edge of the lowermost cover plateis maintained in alignment with the other. .cover plates by means of the plates 14-. A.

slight clearance, however, is provided between the angle 15 and the corner plate 26, in order that the pressure brought to bear on the plates 26 when the concrete or cement is poured in place at the sides will cause a close engagement of the lateral edges of all of the cover plates. If desired, the upper ends of the uprights may-be prevented from separating by driving nails through the openings 39 in the angles 15 and into the supporting timber 16. After the form is in position, when the height of the form requires, the chains 36 will be applied with the hooks 35 engaged in the openings 3%, thechains being drawn taut and the opposite ends being secured to the base timber 32, s

by means of nails 40. These chains providea diagonal bracing to maintain the form true. Small nails may be driven into the base timber 32 through the notches 4.1 to assist in maintaining the parts in position.

It will be noted that the form shown in Figure 1 provides for a culvert or bridge having an opening therethrough of exactly two feet in height, and two feet in width, andthat notwithstanding the fact that the form isshown as in place, a substantial opening is provided through the center of the form to permit the discharge of water in case of floods or other unexpected flow, while the form is in place.

Assuming that the concrete has been placed about the form, and has hardened, all that is necessary to release the form so as to permit its ready removal is to knock the timbers 32 out from under the flanges of the lowermost sections 10. This may be done by a mawl, axe, bar, or with any other de sired instrument. As soon as the timber 32 has been knocked out from under the lowermost sections, the upright sections 10, 12 and 11 will fall, causing the hooks 20 to disengage the openings 29 in the side cover plates. The complete uprights may be moved toward each other at their lower ends. so as to completely disengage them from the rest of the form. The various sections of the form may now be readily removed from the culvert or bridge, section'by section, by a single man, as none of the sections is of excessive weight or size.

It is obvious that many different proportionsof. forms may be provided: with the elements of applicants form. Tahingmerely the sections; illustrated in Figure, 1, all pos. sible combinations of. length and width inw increments of six inches up to. two feet may be provided; Thus, twelve difierent proportions of forms may be produced itroin the sections shown in Figure 1. with the exception that different top supports 16 will have to be provided for each different width of form.

By providingfour additional center up-- right sections 12.1or each side upright, and providing'twelve additional cover plate sec tions for each four feet in length, a form. fourby four teetmay be constructed. Again, the various sections of the four by fourfeet form. may be used to create tor-ms of'varying sizes in increments of SlX inches; Considering merely the sect-ions necessaryto make a four by four foot. form, it will be seen that not less than ninety differentprm portions of formsmay be made by using these sections,'and' ineach case except where the smallest sizes of. forms are produced, a. substantial-opening will be providedthrough the center of the form to take care, of any flow of water which may occur.

In the larger sizes of forms, it sometimeshappens thattheinward side-thrust of the concrete causes a bulging of the form inwardly, due-tothe-iact that the lugs23 and 24: of the form show-n in Figures. 1 and 2 merely loosely engage inv the openings '21. and 22 of the flange below. In order that the uprightsectionsmay be comparatively rigidly secured together, the modifications shownin- Figures 5 to-S inclusive'have been provided.

Referring first to the. modification. shown in Figures 5 and 6, the lowermost flange d2 of the two engaging flanges isprovidedz adjaeent to one edge thereofwith an upwardly extending headed lug- 43. The lowermost flange at of: the upper section is provided with a notch or: slot 41:5,.ar flanged to receive the lug d3, as indicated in Figure 6. The corner of the-tiangedd diagonally opposite to the slot 45 is provided witha downwardly extending headed lug 4.6, which is arranged to be received in av slot 4;? correspondingly formed in the flange l2. Thus,,it. will. be. seenthat the lugs a3, and i6 may be caused. to engage their respective notches or slots e5. and li by a slight sidewise movement of the section, one with respect to the other.. As the headsot' the lugs 43 and 46 are slightly. slanted on their inner'suri aces, andv as the. flanges42 and 4d. are slightly tapered, the lugs 43 and 46 are caused to engage the. flanges with a wedging action, and thus firmly lock the sections together. The sections may be readily loosened, one from the other, by a slight blow on either section in the appropriate direction. In some instances, it: may be found desirable or necessary to provide merely a single lug, as i3, and notch. 45, but where a. single lug and notch is provided it. should be arranged at the edge of tl'iesupporting section which is remote from the hooks.

In Figures: 7. and 8, another manner of securing the upright sections together is discloset. The lower flange ofthe two engaging flanges is provided with a pair of upwardlyextending headed lugs-d8, which may lie-similar tothe lugs diland 400i Figure 6.- The lowen flange ofzthe upper one of the two adjacent sections will be provided with thekeyhole slots -l9. It will be understood that thelugs il-8 and slots i9 will be correspondingly positioned at the diagonally opposite corners ofthe. plates. In securing the sections together, the upper plate would be placed on the lower one, so that the heads of the lugs-48- would pass upwardly through the large portions of the slots 49. The upright sections will their be-moved, onerelatively to the-other,,soastoi position the reduced portions of the lugs 48in the reduced portions of the keyhole slots 49, thus looking the two sectionstogether. If desired, the keyhole slots may be' placed in the lower of the two engaging plates, and the lugs caused to project downwardly from the up oer of the two engaging-plates. V

nether: expedient which maybe enr ployed is to'provide aligned openings iirtlie baseflangesof the sections shown in Figures l and'2 and-whent-he sections areusedto produce a form of largesize, wherebulg ing'is; apt'to occur, a bolt may be inserted through these aligned openings in. order to preventthe inneredges of the adjoinin baseiianges from: spreading. Other-expo ients for preventing the separation-of the adjoin ing flanges of the uprightsections are contemplated'by. applicant, but they will" not be herein specifically noted. 1

V-Vhilethe dnawingsandthe above d esoription have been limited tothe disclosure of certain definite details, it is to-be under-- stood! thatsapplicant contemplates *arious modifications-in the details of his invention; lVhile siX-inch IriJGZllllS have been shownasthe material from which the upright. cen-- tersectionshavebeen tormechit is readily conceivable that thesese'ctions-may be made of; other-materials,- or other forms of structural steel-h lilie. dimensions. of the. various parts of. applicants form may. also be variedi. It is therefore-to be understood that-the invention is-toibe limitedwmerely by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I. claim. isnew and desire to setureby. Letters --Pa-tent otthe- United States is:

1. In. a.--for1n,. support, and cover plates mounted thereom'each of said supportsconsisting of a. plurality of sections of I-beams, one of the flanges-0t the Lbeams being provided with an opening, and the adjacent flange of the next section being provided with a correspondingly positioned lug adapted to project into said opening.

2. In a form, aplurality of upright supwardly from the web of each of said sections respectively, and side cover plates having inwardly extending flanges provided with openings arranged to receive said hooks respectively.

5. In a form, a plurality of upright supports, each comprising a plurality of like sections of I-beams arranged with their webs in alignment and flanges in abutting relation, hooks, one projecting outwardly from each side of the web of each of said sections, and side cover plates arranged in endwise abutting relation and having flanges provided with openings arranged to receive said hooks respectively.

6. Ina form, a plurality of upright supports, each comprising a plurality of sections, a hook projecting outwardly from each of said sections, and side cover plates, each having inturned flanges provided with openings arranged to receive the hooks of adjacent sections of said supports, respectively.

7. In a form, a plurality of upright supports, each comprising a plurality of like sections, hook projecting outwardly from each of said sections, side cover plates having inturned flanges provided with openings arranged to receive said hooks respectively, and means for supporting said supports, said means for supporting being capable of removal to permit said support sections to move downwardly to disengage said hooks from said openings.

8. In a form, a plurality of upright supports, each comprising a plurality of like sections of I-beams arranged with their flanges in abutting relation, hooks projecting outwardly from the web of each section, side cover plates having flanges provided with openings arranged to receive said hooks, and means for permitting said supports to move downwardly to disengage said hooksfrom said openings.

9. In a form, a plurality of upright supports each comprising a plurality of like sections, each section consisting of a web with a flange at each edge thereof, side cover plates having flanges, means joining said cover plate flanges to said sections respectively, and means for supporting said supports, said means for supporting being capable of removal to permit said sections to move downwardly and render said joining means inoperative.

10. In a form, supports, metal cover plates on said supports with their edges in abutting relation, flanges at the opposite edges of each plate, each of said flanges consisting of a portion of the, plate re-bent on itself with the outer side thereof positioned at an angle of slightly less than to the plane of the plate.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of February, 1922.

v HARRY E. BILGER.

lVitnesses:

EDNA V. GUsrArsoN, EMILE J. BOURGEOIS. 

